Mumbai Darshan

 MUMBAI DARSHAN

As I reflect on Mumbai's transformation, I'm struck by the city's rebirth. In the 80s, Bombay was a beautiful, yet buzzing metropolis. But as the years passed, it faced growing pains – choking on pollution, traffic, and congestion. Yet, beneath the chaos, something remarkable was happening. A quiet revolution was underway, reshaping the city's landscape. Recently, a group of retired friends and I decided to explore the city's new avatar. We were blown away by the changes. The Eastern Express Highway, once lined with dilapidated buildings, now boasts sleek, modern facades. Navi Mumbai shone like a gem, its Palm Beach Road evoking memories of the Middle East. We marvelled at the flamingos dotting the lakes, the majestic ISKCON temple in Khargar, and the breathtaking Atal Setu, a 21 km-long bridge that whisked us across the Arabian Sea to the Victoria Terminus in just 25 minutes.

As we drove through the city, iconic landmarks like the Marine Drive, Mantralaya, and the RBI flashed by, stirring fond memories. The newly opened Coastal Road was an engineering marvel, reminiscent of Dubai's waterfront. We zipped past Haji Life and onto the Worli Sea Link, reaching Bandra in just 15 minutes – a testament to the city's infrastructure revolution. Living in Mumbai, I'd been oblivious to this transformation, but now I see the city in a new light. As they say, "the darkest shadow is cast right under the lamp." Mumbai, you've done it again – Yeh hai Mumbai meri jaan!"

The awesome foursome’s day out for revisiting Mumbai (Unashamedly, I take the liberty to praise ourselves, since no one else does).

The new ISKON temple in Khargarh, New Mumbai

Radha-Krishna deity at the ISKON temple.

A view of the temple entry.

 

 

The proudly-pink Flamingos having their feed on shrimps.

 

The picturesque Palm Beach Road

The Mumbai Skyline from the Atal Setu.

 

The Mantralaya (The Maharashtra-Secretariat)

Driving through the evergreen Marine Drive

Haji Ali, after exiting the coastal road.

The Transformed skyline of Mumbai.

A drive under the sea through the coastal road

I couldn't help adding this video taken by my friend a few months ago, in winter, just to show the thick population of flamingos in Navi Mumbai. This is more than most waterbodies in sparsely populated locations.